About Sargent

Sargent, Nebraska, population 577, is a small community located in Custer County half mile north of the Middle Loup River in central Nebraska.

With its scenic river front location at the foot of the Sandhills, Sargent is the Key to the Middle Loup Valley. Sargent lies just south of the Sandhills which sport abundant water, a large variety of wildlife, and beautiful scenery. This region is known for its outdoor activities, and several hunting lodges are located in the area. Sargent's economy is based primarily on agriculture with small levels of industry. The community is dedicated to making Sargent a great place to live, work, and locate your business. If you are not a resident of Sargent, we invite you to visit us soon!

Sargent City Services

When you move in to Sargent, please come to the City Clerk's office to sign up for your utilites and trash collection. If you have a pet, you will also need to license your pet. We will also provide you with a list of additional contacts to help you as you move to Sargent.

How Sargent Got Her Name

George W. Sherman, born in New York on September 7th 1835, and his wife, the former Ruth Courtney, a native of West Virginia, came in the spring of 1879 to take a homestead of 160 acres a half mile east of what was later to be the village of Sargent.

Acting on a petition by the settlers for mail service, David M. Key, then post master General of the United States, appointed Mrs. Ruth A. Sherman postmaster July 23, 1879.

The commission, well preserved and on display in the Sargent Post Office, was issued to Mrs. Sherman on September 5th, 1879 authorizing her to establish an office.

Her office, located in a soddy a half mile east of the now corporate limits of town and providing weekly mail service from North Loup was named Sargent in honor of close friends, Mr. and Mrs. E.D. Sargent of Streator, Illinois.

With the establishment of a post office, contact with the outside world became easier and more and more settlers came into this fertile valley to make a life for themselves and their families. J.K. Spacht built the first store in what is now Sargent, in July of 1883, in the middle of a wheat field. After establishment of his store Mr. Spacht was able to persuade Mrs. Sherman to let him move her post office to his store. Mrs. Sherman agreed with the condition that the name would remain Sargent. (Reprinted from the Diamond Anniversary Book of 1958 and the Centennial book of 1983.)

The town of Sargent quickly formed on two adjoining quarters of land owned by JW Thomas and E.P. Savage. Savage promoted the town vigorously after plotting out the town with Thomas on their adjoining quarters. Thomas opened the first bank in Custer County (Custer County Bank) where TK Repair is now. The J.K. Spacht store and bank were quickly joined by other businesses and at the end of 1883 Sargent boasted the Spacht Store, Custer County Bank, The Windsor Hotel, Pioneer Drug Store, Brandenbury Furniture, and a Livery Barn.

Sargent grew to over 300 people by 1888. Much of this growth was due to expansion of B&M Railroad into Sargent. A railroad strike stifled those plans and the town fell into a deep economic regression for most of the 1890’s. In 1899, the first train rolled into Sargent rescuing her from economic demise suffered by surrounding towns like Round Valley, Sommerford, West Union or Cummings Park. By 1900, Sargent had two newspapers, two banks, two churches, two grain elevators, many businesses, a creamery, a school and phone lines from Broken Bow Independent Telephone. Many milestones and hardships were in front of her but a little village that rose from a wheat field had secured its place in Custer County and in history.